Lead Practice Nurse

Job responsibilities

The post holder is responsible for ensuring the delivery of safe and effective nursing care to the whole practice population across all sites. As the team leader for the nursing/HCA team, the post holder is accountable for nursing service delivery. They will lead and manage all the nursing resource, working closely with the practice management and GPs to deliver the practice priorities.

Clinically, the focus of the role is the delivery of evidence-based practice for patients with long-term conditions and management and preventative nursing interventions to all patients. As an autonomous practitioner the nurse is responsible for the care delivered, demonstrating critical thinking and skills in clinical decision-making. They will work collaboratively with the whole general practice team to meet the needs of patients, supporting the delivery of policy and procedures, and providing leadership and direction for the nursing team.

Job responsibilities – Leadership, personal and people development

• Act as a clinical leader in the delivery of practice nursing services to patients, ensuring that the needs of the patient are the priority
• Lead the nursing team in the planning and implementation of local guidelines, protocols and standards, and of local projects or initiatives
• Promote the role of the nursing team in the provision of care
• Participate in practice team meetings, delivering the nursing agenda and run nurse department meetings
• Promote a learning environment with a no blame culture
• Lead the QoF strategy and delivery for LTC management, maximising income
• Responsible for managing and maximising CCG, PHE and NHSE driven targets (childhood immunisations, flu campaigns, smears etc)
• Support the development of others in order to maximise staff potential
• Lead others to make realistic self-assessment of their knowledge and skills, challenging any complacency and actions that are not in the interest of the public and/or users of service
• Take responsibility for own development, learning and performance including participating in clinical supervision and acting as a positive role model

Clinical practiceAssess, plan, develop, implement, provide and evaluate treatment programmes including, but not limited to:

• Manage and treat long-term conditions (asthma, diabetes, COPD, CHD, hypertension), in line with national/local policies and practice needs
• Support and manage health needs of women presenting for family planning and cervical cytology consultations
• Implement and participate in vaccination and immunisation programmes for both adults and children including patients travelling abroad
• Meet the needs of patients presenting for opportunistic wound care
• Health promotion and well-being plus individual plans for patients with/at risk of a long term condition
• Make professionally autonomous decisions and be accountable for safe, evidence based, cost effective, individualised patient care
• Make appropriate referral to other members of the primary, community and secondary team. Signpost appropriately
• Where the post holder is an independent prescriber: to ensure safe, effective and appropriate medications as defined by current legislative framework and local and practice guidelines
• Looking after the Nursing/HCA team
• Assist in and perform routine tasks related to patient care as directed by GPs and other clinicians

Experience

Essential

• Minimum 5 years post registration experience
• At least 2 years recent primary nursing experience
• Experience in nurse-led management of long-term conditions
• Team leader experience
• Experience in implementing protocols and clinical guidelines
• Experience in quality initiatives such as clinical benchmarking
• Audit skills

Desirable

• Audit/research experience

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered first level nurse
• Community nursing specialist qualification or equivalent
• Relevant nursing/health degree
• Mentor/teaching qualification
• Clinical supervision training and experience

Desirable

• Independent/supplementary nurse prescribing qualification

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• Skills in management of patients with long-term conditions including COPD and Diabetes
• Awareness of accountability of own and others roles in a nurse-led service
• Knowledge of health promotion strategies
• Awareness of local and national health policy
• Knowledge of clinical governance issues in primary care
• Knowledge of patient group directions and associated policy
• Leadership skills
• Clinical leadership skills
• Skills in management of staff and teams
• Negotiation skills
• Clinical skills cervical cytology, immunisation and vaccination, ear care, wound management, minor illness, asthma, COPD, contraception and diabetes
• Change-management skills and ability to support patients to change lifestyle
• Communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to communicate difficult messages to patients and families
• Negotiation and conflict management skills
• Teaching and mentorship experience in a clinical setting (Practice supervisor and assessor training).
• IT skills

Desirable

• Knowledge of public health issues
• Ability to identify determinates on health in the local area
• Knowledge of public health issues in the area
• Wider health economy awareness
• Management knowledge
• Minor Illness
• Leadership Qualification

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).